To find out what version of Ubuntu you're running, use simple terminal commands or GUI steps—it's a quick check anyone can do on their system. These methods work across recent releases like Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (Noble Numbat) up to the latest in 2026.

Terminal Methods

Open your terminal with Ctrl + Alt + T for the fastest results.

  • Run lsb_release -a : Look under "Description" for output like "Ubuntu 24.04.1 LTS". This is the go-to command, reliable since early versions.
  • Try cat /etc/os-release : Shows "PRETTY_NAME" or "VERSION" lines with full details, e.g., "Ubuntu 24.10". Great for modern systems (16.04+).
  • Use hostnamectl : Displays "Operating System: Ubuntu 24.04 LTS" cleanly, including kernel info—no extra tools needed.

Example output fromlsb_release -a:

Description:    Ubuntu 24.04 LTS
Release:        24.04
Codename:       noble

GUI Method

No command line? Go visual.

  1. Click the Settings gear in the Launcher (top-left dock).
  2. Select About or Details on the left.
  3. Scroll to see "OS Name" or version, like "Ubuntu 24.04 LTS".

Why Check?

Ensures software compatibility—e.g., match drivers or updates. Ubuntu releases every 6 months (e.g., 25.04 in 2025), with LTS every 2 years for stability.

TL;DR : lsb_release -a in terminal is quickest; GUI via Settings > About works too.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.